{
  "id": 4118435,
  "title": "1st-Half Births in Japan Rise for 1st Time in 11 Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/1st-half-births-in-japan-rise-for-1st-time-in-11-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T05:53:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/jiji-press/20260829-346137/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the first time in 11 years, births in Japan increased during the first half of the year, according to health ministry data released on Friday. The preliminary figures indicate a modest rise of 2,788 births, or 0.8%, compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 342,068. However, this still falls short of the 400,000 milestone for the fifth consecutive year. The upward trend may be attributed to increased marriages in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, the number of births by Japanese nationals in Japan reached a record low of 671,236, marking the 10th consecutive year of decline. The decrease in the number of births slowed to 2.2%, down from around 5% since 2022. Meanwhile, the number of marriages grew by 418 to 238,979 during the first six months of the year, while divorces fell by 3,578 to 90,177. The overall natural decrease in population, calculated as deaths minus births, amounted to 436,914. The preliminary data encompasses births by foreigners in Japan and those by Japanese nationals residing abroad. Finalized data, expected to be released later, will only include births by Japanese nationals living in the country. Since 1975, the annual number of births in Japan has been declining, dipping below 1 million in 2016 and falling below 700,000 in 2024.",
  "summary": "TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The number of births in Japan rose in the first half of the year for the first time in 11 years, health ministry data showed Friday in a sign that the figure’s rapid decline is ending.",
  "key_points": [
    "Births in Japan increased 0.8% in first half year, reaching 342,068",
    "Record low of 671,236 births by Japanese nationals in 2025",
    "Marriages grew 418 to 238,979, while divorces fell 3,578 to 90,177"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The modest rise in births during the first half of the year suggests a potential shift in Japan's long-standing declining birth trend, possibly linked to an increase in marriages.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Japan births rise 0.8% in Jan.-June, 1st increase in 11 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/japan-births-rise-0-8-in-jan-june-1st-increase-in-11-years",
        "published": "2026-08-29T06:00:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}